Results tagged “manncenterfortheperformingarts”

We had forgotten not all Death Cab for Cutie songs are thisclose to being emo. Our association of the band's music with melancholy proved to be a misnomer. Kicking off the show with an upbeat choice from their new album, Narrow Stairs, Ben Gibbard and the band seemed hell bent on reminding concert-goers that sensitive lyrics do not necessarily lead to a lack of energy. By the second song—the epic "New Year" from Transatlanticism—the entire crowd was on its feet, singing along and punching the air with each blast of the bass drum. The unfurling of the Pollack-esque (we know that's a stretch) album cover whipped everyone into a frenzy.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news.

As this was Nickel Creek's farewell tour, I expected a concert full of Nickel Creek and their music. (Heaven forbid!) Though the concert was co-billed with Fiona Apple, I thought we would see Apple perform as sort of an opener, as well as at the end, where she would perform a couple of encore numbers with Nickel Creek. I was grossly mistaken. Everyone ultimately felt gypped, annoyed and frustrated regardless of who they went to...

Imagine dusk in the Appalachian mountains - the crickets are chirping through the tall grass, the moist air wets your back as a cool breeze sweeps through the dense heat. It's finally that time. The time when friends and family congregate on the front porch for some cold drinks - iced tea, beer and maybe some whiskey - and best of all, live music. The sounds of the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass will soon...

, has been getting outstanding reviews. (Really. Google her.)

Earlier this week, we had the chance to check out bluegrass legend Alison Krauss, and now we get to see Nickel Creek's farewell tour with Fiona Apple (strange combination, I know.) Now Nickel Creek is also well-known in the bluegrass community with their standard instrumentation of fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and bass, but they've definitely jumped out of the standard bluegrass mold. They refer to their music as "progressive acoustic." I refer to it as "kick-ass bluegrass." Really, it's bluegrass with a twist - it's updated, interesting, and current. The band is made up of permanent (well, not anymore) members Chris Thile (mandolin), Sara Watkins (violin/fiddle), her brother Sean Watkins (guitar) and not-so-permanent Mark Schatz (string bass).

It is true. We have a love of fiddle-playing, banjo-picking bluegrass music. (Not country - that's a whole different story.) This week, Philadelphia has the privilege of hosting two of bluegrass' biggest acts: Alison Krauss (tonight) and Nickel Creek (Saturday night). Alison Krauss is known for basically transforming bluegrass music back into popular music. It's no doubt you have heard her Grammy-nominated tunes on movies such as O, Brother Where Art Thou? or Cold Mountain....

The Decemberists. Wow. We all knew they would be good, but I wasn't expecting them to be that good. Last Sunday's concert was amazing (besides the humidity). They instantly jumped into this Phillyist's top-ten-best-concerts list. For the record, Phillyist has given The Decemberists nothing but positive reviews: "easily one of the best live shows we've ever seen," and another stated, "It was our first Decemberists show, and it won’t be our last." We agree...

Chris Funk of The Decemberists

The Decemberists Giveaway
7/2/07-7/6/07

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Thursday post only collects the latest announcements, so definitely check the Tuesday post for any you may have missed.

Tonight. 8 p.m. Damien Rice. Mann Music Center. Joygasm.